The board and directors of Goddy Jidemma Foundation has announced that this year’s Foundation Annual Lecture will be delivered by Kenya’s fiery academic and former anti corruption tzar, Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba on the 26th of November, 2019 in Lagos. The event which will take place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs , Victoria Island , Lagos is expected to be well attended judging from the quality of followership Prof. Lumumba has across Africa.
The theme of this year’s bi-annual lecture is ‘Governance, Insecurity, Poverty and Economic Development:Whither Africa?’ and the event will be chaired by Prof Joy Ogwu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs & Former Permanent Representative of Nigeria at the United Nations.
Goddy Jidenma Foundation is a not-for-profit,non-governmental organization established in 2007 in the memory of Arc Goddy Jidenma, who died in 2006. He was a selfless leader who made indelible impacts in the lives of the people around him particularly among the disadvantaged. He achieved this through philanthropic acts that helped to uplift and improve the living conditions of widows, orphans, aged spinsters amongst others.
The Foundation in fulfilling part of its objectives promotes thought leadership through its bi-annual public lecture series which focuses on engaging the Nigerian public on issues of national and continental relevance.
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The inaugural lecture of the Foundation was held in 2009 with a ground-breaking Lecture by the renowned constitutional Lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, SAN, NNOM, CON on “Strengthening the Foundations and Institutions of Democracy in Africa”.
Its second bi-annual lecture in 2011 lecture on “Democracy and the Politics of Petroleum: comparative African Perspectives” was delivered by the notable Public Intellectual and internationally celebrated African Political Scientist, Prof Ali Mazrui., D.Phil (Oxon) C.B.S.
The Third bi-annual Lecture on “The Practice of Federalism in Africa, the Nigerian Experience and the Way Forward” was delivered in 2013 by Prof Elaigwu, a Stanford University trained, Emeritus Professor of Political Science of University of Jos and the President of Institute of Governance and Social Research, Jos.
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The Fourth Public lecture was in 2015. The Topic of discourse was “Leadership, Responsibility & Good Govenance” which was delivered by Prof. Pat Utomi, Founder and CEO of Center for Values in Leadership.
The Fifth public Lecture was held in 2017 on the topic: “The Challenge of Economic Growth in Nigeria” by Prof Kingsley Moghalu, OON, Founder & President, Institute of Governance and Economic Transformation & Former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria.
Past Chairmen of the bi-annual Lecture include Prof. Anya O. Anya, NNOM, a National Merit Award Laureate and Former CEO of Nigerian Economic Summit Group; Chief Arthur Mbanefo, CON, Former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, CFR, Former Secretary-General, Commonwealth; Dr Christopher Kolade, CFR, Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Pro-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University and Mallam Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, OON, Vice Chairman /CEO, Alpine Investments Ltd & Former Chairman, The Nigerian Economic Summit Group. Key political players, thought leaders as well as captains of industries are expected to be present at this year’s event.
Goddy Jidenma Foundation is duly registered and it is run by the Board of Trustees whose members are highly respected people in the society.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.